Improvement in book-holders



' tom.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. MOULTON, OF OLD TOWN, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,276, dated September 28, 1875; application filed August 23, 1875.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs A. MoUL'roN, of Old Town, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective of my invention; Fig. 2, a side view, folded.

Same letters show like parts.

My invention consists of an improved book rest or holder so constructed as to support the book in' a convenient position for reading, and,when not in use, capable of being folded within a small space. It is adjustable to different degrees of inclination, and. also to books of different thicknesses. 3

Referring to the drawing, a shows a frame, consisting of two uprights, b b, held together by cords c c, or similar devices. At d is a support or shelf, upon which the book rests, perforated at c c, and having attached thereto an arm, f, extending backward, and provided with notches g 9 upon its upper surface at its rear end. This shelf is hinged or pivoted to the uprights b b near their front edge and bot- At the top of the uprights, and near their rear edge, is pivoted a cross-bar, h, provided with an arm, 2', of such a length as to reach the notches in the arm f, and serve as a support or third leg to the holder. This arm is sharpened at its lower end in such manner as to engage the notches in the arm f.

When the holder is in use the arm f is thrown backward, throwing the shelf d to the 'front, as in Fig. 1. The arm 'i is drawn out,

and its end inserted in one of the notches g of the arm f, and the holder is ready for use, resting upon the bottoms-of the uprights b b and the end of the arm f, forming a triangle, and furnishing a firm support for the book. Pegs j j, placed in the perforations e e of the shelf d, serve to keep the book open, and to hold it in place.

The shelf d and cross-bar It being pivoted near the opposite edges of the uprights b b, instead of in the center, the holder is rendered capable of folding within a small space, occupying only the thickness of the standards b, thus requiring no more room than a book. This is distinctly shown in Fig. 2, which shows the holder folded.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a book-rest, the combination of the frame a, shelf and arm at f, and cross-bar and arm h i, said shelf and cross-bar being pivoted at opposite edges of the uprights b b, substantially as and for the described purposes.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of August, 1875.

L. A. MOULTON.

Witnesses: I WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY, JOHN R. MASON. 

